Community Manager NEW

Birmingham, Staffordshire
CIH International Housing Group
Community Manager

Closing date for applications: Friday 03rd July 2026

Purpose of Job

To lead the delivery of measurable social value and place-based outcomes across CrossCountry’s route network through the effective management of Community Rail Partnerships and funded community, customer and biodiversity programmes.

Reporting to the Head of Sustainability, the role translates strategic social value priorities into well-governed, compliant and impactful initiatives, ensuring that external funding and partnerships deliver tangible benefits for communities and passengers.

The Community Manager provides operational leadership across CRP activity, CCIF and Biodiversity Improvement Projects, embedding strong project management, assurance and impact measurement, and leading clear, transparent communications that support engagement and accountability.

Principal Accountabilities Social Value Strategy & Place-Based Impact

• Lead the development and delivery of community and social value programmes that generate measurable outcomes for local communities, aligned to CrossCountry’s sustainability strategy, inclusion objectives and contractual commitments.
• Translate organisational social value priorities into place-based initiatives that improve accessibility, skills, wellbeing, biodiversity and local economic participation along the route network.
• Embed robust social value measurement frameworks, ensuring community activity delivers demonstrable benefits for passengers, communities and the wider railway system.
• Ensure community initiatives align with regulatory, contractual and policy requirements (including DfT and ORR guidance).

Community Rail Partnerships (CRP) Leadership & Governance

• Act as CrossCountry’s operational lead for Community Rail Partnerships, providing day-to-day oversight, coordination and relationship management.
• Manage CRP governance arrangements, ensuring clear objectives, accountability, performance reporting and alignment with CrossCountry’s sustainability and social value priorities.
• Support CRPs to develop strong, compliant delivery plans that maximise social, environmental and community outcomes.
• Work closely with the Head of Sustainability to ensure CRP funded activity is aligned with wider place-based, inclusion and environmental objectives across the business

Programme & Project Management

• Lead the end-to-end management of funded community programmes, including:
• Community Rail Partnership Project Funding
• Customer and Community Improvement Fund (CCIF) projects
• Biodiversity Improvement Projects (BIP)
• Charitable Donations
• Oversee project development, funding bids, delivery plans, milestones, risk management and benefits realisation.
• Ensure funded projects are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and in line with funder conditions and governance requirements.
• Maintain accurate records, monitoring and reporting to demonstrate compliance, impact and value for money.

Stakeholder & Partnership Delivery

• Build and maintain trusted working relationships with third-sector organisations, schools, charities and community groups.
• Coordinate collaborative initiatives that leverage partner expertise, co-funding opportunities and volunteer participation to amplify social value outcomes.
• Support volunteering, educational outreach and local regeneration initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to communities served by the railway.

Communications & Engagement

• Lead communications in support of community and social value delivery, working with the Head of Sustainability to ensure alignment with wider strategic messaging
• Develop and deliver communications materials related to CRPs, funded projects and community initiatives, including briefings, updates and digital content.
• Work with marketing and PR team to ensure communications accurately reflect delivery progress and outcomes.
• Support consultation, listening events and feedback mechanisms that directly inform programme design and continuous improvement.

Reporting, Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain comprehensive records of community engagement activity, funded projects, outcomes and lessons learned.
• Produce regular performance and impact reports for senior leadership and board-level forums, demonstrating contribution to social value, sustainability and strategic objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve governance, delivery models and impact measurement across community programmes.

Experience, Knowledge, Qualifications & Training

Essential:

• Proven experience delivering community, social value or place-based programmes with measurable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of social values frameworks, impact measurements and benefits realisation.
• Experience working with local communities.
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships with clear governance, accountability and reporting.
• Proven experience managing funded programmes or projects end-to-end, including delivery, risk and reporting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience leading delivery-focused communications (briefings, updates, reports, stakeholder materials).

Desirable

• Experience delivering social value within rail, transport, infrastructure or public sector contexts.
• Direct experience working with Community Rail Partnerships or similar community-based delivery bodies.
• Experience supporting or overseeing volunteer-led or grant-funded organisations.
• Experience managing grant funded programmes or projects or public funding (e.g. community, customer or environmental funds).
• Familiarity with biodiversity, environmental improvement or sustainability-related projects.

Diversity & Inclusion

At CrossCountry, we believe our people should reflect the diverse communities we serve. Inclusion isn’t just part of our strategy – it’s central to our success. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to be their best.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply.